Project Manager

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary:

The Project Manager 1 (PM) reports into the Project Management Office (PMO) and will be responsible for managing three or more small to medium sized from initiation through closing. As part of the PMO team, the PM utilizes established project standards and procedures based on Project Management Institute best practices and has an eye for continuous improvement. He/she is a well-organized, systematic problem-solver with a proven ability to communicate ideas and develop business relationships. Experience with matrix organizations and managing IT projects with DFARS/DoD is of great value to this role.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Manages and ensures timely completion of three or more small to medium sized projects from initiation through closing.
• Takes the lead in developing and maintaining a detailed project charter, scope, project/program management plans, and other project artifacts.
• Develops project schedules and closely monitors task completion and overall project execution.
• Prepares and provides status reports to project sponsor and team. Communicates with end users and other stakeholders as needed. Generates meeting minutes, identifies action items/next steps, helps the team to eliminate roadblocks, and follows up on execution.
• Develops and maintains a productive working relationship with business owners, projects, and key stakeholders. Conducts formal review with business sponsor at project completion to confirm acceptance and satisfaction.
• Establishes strong project team comradery by leveraging interpersonal skills, establishing rapport, and building trust with team members. Identifies the roles, skills and knowledge required for successful project execution.
• Monitors projects through identifying resource needs, and escalates scope, budget, quality, and timeline issues to management appropriately.
• Identifies opportunities to gain efficiencies across projects.
• Determines budget for projects. Continuously monitors the actual costs of a project/program against the original budget.
• Identifies risks to projects and creates action plans for risk mitigation. Analyzes, prioritizes, and consolidates this risk and assesses its potential impact on the overall project execution. Process Management / Methodology
• As part of the PMO team, utilizes established project standards and procedures, including templates, processes, workflows, and tools. Standards are based on Project Management Institute practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities
• Ability to develop and revise processes along with training and communication prior to implementation.
• Able to contribute to the development of new quality metrics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and oral and written communication skills are required
• Exceptional relationship management and performance management skills
• Experience with MS Project or other similar WBS system
• Experience with MS SharePoint or other similar collaboration tool suite
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and meet deadlines  
• Self• starter with strong communication and issue resolution skills
• Familiarity with NIST, NISP, DFARS, and other DoD compliance documents and standards.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, a Security related field.
Project management professional (PMP) certification or participation in a recognized project management curriculum is preferred

Experience
Requires 3-5 years of project management or equivalent team leadership experience.
Certification or experience in Agile Project Management is preferred.
Experience working in a highly secure environment and industry standards.

Additional Job Description:

Applicants selected for this position may be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

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Job Location - City:

Cambridge

Job Location - State:

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

02139-3563

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.